And then I realized that my mate must be hungry.

She definitely hadn't eaten anything since she'd gone missing. I took her hand as we left my office and entered the large dining room. Thankfully, Jace had already mind linked the cook, letting her know we were bringing a young pup who needed food.

The aroma of warm pancakes and sweet syrup filled the air as we stepped inside.

Mercedes immediately let go my hand and hurried toward the table, clearly famished. I guided her to the chair that had remained vacant since I became Alpha, the Luna’s seat. Carefully, I lifted her and placed her in the seat that waited for her for so long. Jace and our Head Warrior, Cleo, watched with wide eyes, holding their breath.

I didn’t pay any attention to them.

My focus was entirely on my little Luna, finally seated in her rightful place. Taking my position next to her in my Alpha chair at the head of the table, I picked up a plate and placed a fluffy pancake on it.

“Mercedes, which syrup would you like on your pancake? We have strawberry, caramel, and pure honey,” I asked. Her eyes were fixed on the delectable pancakes on her plate, my mate was definitely a foodie.

“Honey, Zane,” she exclaimed with delight. “My mummy always puts lots of honey on mine.” I drizzled a generous amount of the sweet substance over the pancake and then carefully cut it into smaller pieces for her. I handed her a fork, and she immediately began to dig in.

“Thank you, Zane,” she said a moment later, her mouth full. I also poured her a glass of fresh orange juice.

“You’re very welcome, little one,” I replied. Once I was sure she was comfortable and enjoying her meal, I began to eat my own breakfast.

‘Zane, we need to talk,’ Jace’s voice echoed in my mind. ‘I’ve never seen you so affectionate with a pup before. Something’s going on here.’

‘I’m starting to guess what it is from the look on your face,’ he continued.

I glanced at my Beta and Head Warrior. Making sure Mercedes was completely absorbed in her food, I turned back to my two closest friends.

‘Yes,’ I confirmed their unspoken question. ‘She’s my fated mate, your Luna. Only the Moon Goddess knows why she paired me with a pup, but I love her already, and I’ll make sure she stays in my life until she’s old enough to officially take her place as Midnight Moon’s Luna,” I declared confidently.

Jace looked at me thoughtfully.

‘You know Alpha Ahri is incredibly strict with his pack members,’ he reminded me. ‘You’ll have to be very persuasive to convince him that she belongs with you. Man, you have a long way to go with that fool.’

Jace was right. I knew all about that.

Ahri was a controversial leader. He trusted no one, and he was quick to anger. Even if a low-ranking Omega from his pack got into trouble, he was ready to declare war. And now, his Beta’s daughter was here, in my pack. I knew it would be difficult to arrange regular visits with my mate. But he would have no choice but to allow me near her, the werewolf laws were very clear on this point; mates belonged together.

The only caveat was Mercedes’s age.

Because she was a minor, I couldn’t simply claim her and keep her in my pack. Until she turned eighteen and also recognized me as her mate, she would remain under Ahri’s jurisdiction.

Damn. These were going to be some long, challenging years.

“Zane, how old are you? And where are your mummy and daddy?” Mercedes’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“I’m twenty, little one. My parents live in the other wing of the packhouse. And I have a younger sister named Elise. The Head Warrior here is her mate,” I explained. “Do you know what a mate is?”

Her big silver eyes met mine.

“My mummy and daddy are mates. They kiss each other all day long,” she said, demonstrating with a dramatic grin. "I often ask them why they kiss each other so much when they only have one pup at the end of the day.”

Jace and Cleo burst out laughing at her innocent observation. Mercedes looked at them shyly.

“Little one,” Jace said, still chuckling. “Whoever told you that mates have babies by kissing, well, they lied to you. You can trust me on that.”

A serious expression settled on Mercedes’s face.

“Marco’s parents have five pups, and they kiss all day too,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Marco says he often sees them without clothes in the house too.”

I nearly choked on my pancake.

Holy crap. What was wrong with these people? Didn’t they believe in locking their doors when they are at it?

“He told you that? Maybe his parents were about to shift into their wolf at the time?” I suggested, trying to salvage the situation.

Shit! This was unheard of. If I ever met this nosy Marco, I’d have to teach him some discretion. He seemed far too eager to introduce my mate to adult matters.

“No, no, no, Zane,” she insisted, shaking her head firmly. “Everyone shifts outside the house or in the forest—never in a bedroom.”

Now it was that introvert Cleo’s turn to lose control.

He banged his head lightly on the dining table, roaring with laughter.

Oh, good heavens. I was clearly unprepared for the logic of a ten-year-old, especially one influenced by a gossipy friend.

I shot my Head Warrior a warning glare, but he was still struggling to compose himself. Jace was also having a hard time keeping a straight face. Desperate to change the subject, I placed another pancake on Mercedes’s plate.

“Why don’t you try the strawberry syrup this time?” I proposed. She nodded eagerly, her attention successfully diverted. After finishing her food, Mercedes began to yawn. The past few hours had clearly taken their toll.

“Are you feeling sleepy, little one?” I asked. “Don’t worry. I’ll have my sister come and get you. She’ll help you take a bath, and then you can rest for a few hours before your parents arrive to pick you up.”

The child nodded happily. I mind linked Elise, asking her to come to the dining room.

‘On my way, Alpha,’ she responded immediately.

When Elise entered, she went straight to Mercedes.

“Cleo told me we have a beautiful guest today,” she said, smiling warmly at my mate. “Hi, I’m Elise. This big Alpha here is my brother. You must be sweet Mercedes.”

Mercedes nodded shyly, watching Elise with interest.

“Can you give her a bath, dress her in some clean clothes, and then let her rest in my bed?” I asked my sister. “She’s been away from her pack all evening. We’ve fed her, and now she needs a nap.”

Taking each other’s hands, Mercedes and Elise left the dining room, chatting happily as if they’d known each other for years.

Now, finally, it was time for a serious discussion with my Beta and Head Warrior about this extraordinary situation.

Jace cleared his throat, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Zane, I’ve spoken with the Beta. He confirmed that his daughter has been missing since yesterday. She was indeed playing with some other pups in the woods when they lost sight of her,” he informed me. “He’s on his way here with his mate to pick her up. They’ll arrive in about two hours.”

He paused, then added.

“Don’t you think you should call Alpha Ahri and let him know about this as soon as possible? That would ease up your path.”

Of course. I’d completely forgotten.

The sheer joy of finally having my mate here with me had consumed my every thought. I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found Ahri’s number.

“Alpha Ahri, this is Alpha Zane from Midnight Moon. I’m calling to inform you that we’ve found your Beta’s daughter near our border,” I stated.

The response on the other end was a low, menacing growl.

“Alpha Zane. Yes, my Beta informed me. This matter requires thorough investigation. A pup doesn’t travel that many miles in a single day. There’s more to this.” His tone was far from friendly, but I hadn’t expected anything different.

“I agree. I also detected the scent of your pack within my territory. This means some of your members entered my lands without permission,” I answered him. “That’s a punishable offense. I’ll be sure to include this in my report.”

He sputtered something unintelligible but didn’t directly address my accusation.

I decided not to push the issue. My current situation was delicate, I was, in a way, at his mercy regarding my personal life.

“There’s something else I need to discuss with you. It’s…unusual, but we can’t question the Moon Goddess’s decisions,” I began carefully, trying to choose my words wisely. “Mercedes is my fated mate.”

I dropped the bombshell.

“What?!” he barked into the phone. “You so much as lay a finger on that pup, and I’ll tear you apart! You pedophile! I’m coming for her with my warriors. You make sure she’s safe at the border. I’ll kill you!” he raged, his voice thick with fury.

His harsh breathing rasped through the speaker, and I could practically feel his anger radiating through the phone.

“ Alpha Ahri, I assure you, I am not a pedophile. Mercedes’s parents are on their way and will have their daughter back safe and sound,” I reassured him calmly. “I have no intention of claiming her yet. I’m well aware of the Werewolf Laws. I want to discuss this rationally and reach an agreement with you.”

“Agreement? About what?” Ahri snarled.

I sighed deeply.

“Listen. Mercedes is my fated mate. The Moon Goddess has decreed it, and I accept that. All I want is free access to be able to visit her in your pack and for her to visit me here, so she can become accustomed to my presence and my pack. After all, she is the future Luna of Midnight Moon.”

I heard him swallow hard several times, the news was clearly difficult for him to accept.

But this exceptional circumstance was something I had to accept as well.

“Alpha, the law forbids third parties from intervening and keeping mates apart,” I reminded him. “I assure you, she’ll always be safe here. My Beta and Head Warrior will act as her personal protectors.”

After a long, tense silence, I heard him take a deep breath, desperately trying to regain control.

Ahri was known for his volatile temper, it took a lot to reason with him. At past Alpha meetings, he had proven himself to be impulsive and unpredictable, few Alphas wanted to deal with him. But I had no choice, my mate belonged to his pack.

“Her parents will be there shortly. Talk to them. If they agree, I expect you in my pack within two weeks to discuss this further,” he finally conceded, his voice still tight with suspicion. “But I still find this suspicious. Too many coincidences. First, the girl goes missing, then she turns up miles away in your territory, and now she’s your mate.” He paused, emphasizing his next words.

“Are you sure you had nothing to do with her disappearance?” he asked, his voice laced with doubt.

Good heavens, no!

Could this man not think logically for once? Even Mercedes had shown more sense than her Alpha!

My patience was wearing thin. I suppressed my annoyance, I didn’t have time to waste on this fool.

“Then explain to me what my motive would be?” I countered. “She’s already my mate. If I knew that beforehand, I would have simply contacted her parents and then you, as I’m doing now,” I explained slowly, as if speaking to a child. “Why would I go to the trouble of kidnapping her first and then make myself look suspicious?”

Ahri seemed to recognize the logic in my words, his tone shifting slightly.

"What are you implying?" he asked, now edged with a different kind of tension. "Are you saying it's impossible? People do all sorts of things to get what they want. What makes you any different?"

I had no patience with this nonsense.

“Listen, Alpha. As agreed, I’ll discuss this with her parents, and I’ll be at your pack in two weeks. I’ll let you know when I’ll arrive. I look forward to hearing the results of your investigation.” Before he could say anything else, I ended the call.

Jace and Cleo stared at me with expressions of pity.

“Yes, that reaction was to be expected. The man isn’t exactly known for his intellect,” Jace sighed wearily. “I could tell he was ready to go to war even before he had all the details in front of him."

“That would be a grave mistake on his part,” Cleo chimed in sarcastically. “Underestimating Midnight Moon and acting against Werewolf Laws will be his downfall one day.”

I walked over to the liquor cabinet and pulled out my most expensive bottle of wine.

There was certainly reason to celebrate, albeit in a complicated way. Midnight Moon had found its Luna, I had ultimately found my mate. It wasn’t how I’d envisioned it, but that didn’t diminish my happiness.

I poured a glass for each of us and raised mine in a toast.

“To a new beginning for Midnight Moon. With a Luna, we are stronger, invincible,” I declared in my most commanding Alpha tone.

Jace and Cleo nodded, their eyes meeting mine with a shared sense of determination.

The bubbles in our glasses rose to the surface as we stood together, united.

“Zane, Mercedes’s parents have arrived.”

Jace entered my office, where I’d been trying to focus on work while my mate was asleep.

I nodded and rose from my chair.

Together, we took the elevator to the Alpha floor. When we stepped into my bedroom, we found Mercedes sleeping peacefully on my bed, looking like a little angel. Seeing her there filled my heart with overwhelming love. I silently vowed to always protect her and make her happiness my top priority.

Elise had fallen asleep beside her but woke as soon as we entered.

“She was exhausted. She was already drifting off while I was bathing her,” my sister whispered, careful not to wake Mercedes.

She’d slept for about two hours, likely not nearly enough to be fully rested. But her parents were waiting, I needed to convince them that their daughter was unharmed. I was acutely aware that I was under scrutiny, everyone would be watching closely how I handled this unusual situation with my young mate.

Carefully, I sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

“Little one, it’s time to wake up,” I said softly, gently stroking her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and a happy smile spread across her lips.

“Zane.”

She sat up and wrapped her small arms around my neck. My wolf, Jax, purred with contentment at having his mate so close.

“Did you sleep well? Go wash your face, and then you can meet your parents,” I said, lifting her from the bed and setting her on her feet. We waited while she used the bathroom, then walked out of the room together.

To my surprise, she voluntarily took my hand in hers as we waited for the elevator. As we descended, she stood close beside me.

“Are you still hungry? Should I ask the cook to make you something else?” I asked, trying to hide the joy her innocent gesture brought me. She nodded enthusiastically, making us all chuckle. Everyone knew by now that eating was one of her favorite habits.

I saw Jace quickly send a mind link.

“The cook anticipated your appetite and has already prepared your cereal,” he relayed to Mercedes. Her face lit up, and she beamed at me.

On the main floor, we went directly to my office. There was a comfortable sitting area where Mercedes could eat her cereal while I spoke with her parents. Once we were all seated, a servant brought in her meal. Moments later, the Head Warrior escorted Mercedes’s parents into the room. We all jumped to our feet and I extended my hand to the Beta and his mate.

“Welcome to Midnight Moon, Beta Marc, Selin,” I greeted them. “As you can see, your daughter is safe here in my pack.” I led them to the small table where Mercedes was still enjoying her cereal. When she saw her parents, she launched herself into their arms, hugging them tightly.

“Daddy! Alpha Zane is so nice to me! He said I can stay here when I’m on school holidays,” she exclaimed excitedly. “I told him I’d ask you first.”

Her parents nodded, their expressions unreadable.

“Why don’t you finish up first, sweetie, while we talk to the Alpha?” her father suggested softly. “Then we can go home.” Mercedes gave me a quick, shy glance before returning to the table. The couple then joined me at my work desk, where I offered them each a chair.

“Beta Marc, Selin. We found your daughter within our territory. We don’t know how she got here, but I did detect the scent of Silver Moon pack members on my land,” I started. “I can’t confirm any direct connection to Mercedes’s disappearance at this time. We’re still investigating.”

Beta Marc met my gaze directly, his expression serious. I held his stare.

“Alpha Ahri suggested that you kidnapped her and brought her here. And now you’re claiming she’s your fated mate,” he stated, his voice rising slightly. His mate immediately reached out and placed a calming hand on his arm.

“As soon as my Beta informed me of his discovery, I went to the location. Nothing like this has ever happened before. I’ve never heard of a pup being found so far from home, all by herself.”

I deliberately ignored the Beta’s thinly veiled accusation.

He knew it wasn’t his place to make such a statement, but he now held the unique position of becoming my father-in-law. Any other pack member who had spoken to me that way would have faced severe consequences.

“I confirm that she is my fated mate. My wolf, Jax, recognized her as such. I trust he can convince your wolves as well,” I stated firmly. “I have a proposal. You both know that mates need to be together to strengthen their bond. This is especially important for me as an Alpha. My mate will not only strengthen me but also bring greater balance to my pack.”

“And what is your proposal, Alpha? My daughter is just a pup. The mating can only happen when she turns eighteen,” her mother said with concern. Mercedes was a miniature version of the woman sitting before me, though she had a noticeable birthmark near one ear. Selin likely had Alpha blood in her lineage, perhaps from a different pack than Silver Moon. It was common for Alpha’s sisters to mate with Betas, either within their own pack or from another.

“I understand that. I have no intention of claiming Mercedes before she’s eighteen. I’m a reasonable man, not a pervert,” I said dryly. “I propose that Mercedes visit Midnight Moon during school holidays and on weekends when she doesn’t have homework, whenever she wants to. And I’ll visit her at your pack. This will continue until she turns eighteen and accepts me as her mate. Then, we’ll have a grand Luna ceremony here in my pack.”

My thoughts drifted to that moment in the future. I envisioned an adult Mercedes standing beside me, our hands intertwined, as my pack welcomed her as their Luna. The thought made my heart beat faster.

I heard a soft chuckle, and I looked up to see Selin smiling.

“Alpha, my wolf is convinced. And the look on your face when you spoke about Mercedes accepting you at eighteen was priceless,” she declared, turning to her mate. “Marc, the Alpha’s proposal is reasonable. If the Moon Goddess brought them together in this way, we shouldn’t keep them apart. I trust the Alpha.”

Beta Marc looked at his mate, still hesitant.

“I’ve never heard any negative reports about Midnight Moon’s treatment of minors,” he admitted reluctantly. “Let’s start with weekend visits before considering longer stays,” he suggested.

That was acceptable for me.

I smiled at my future in-laws. I stood and shook hands with both of them.

“I assure you, you won’t regret this. I’ll visit your pack within a week to formally discuss this agreement with Alpha Ahri.” Through the mind link, I instructed Jace to prepare appropriate gifts for my in-laws while I shared a meal with them in the dining room.

“Beta Marc, Selin, I insist you join me for a meal. You’ll want to know more about me, about the man who is destined to be your daughter’s mate,” I said.

They gratefully accepted my invitation.